There are several things you should do to prepare your garden for the summer season so that you can fully enjoy the time you spend in this part of your property. Read on to learn more.

Invest in a shade sail

If you and your family usually spend a lot of time sunbathing, reading, dining and hosting parties in your garden area during the summer months, then it's worth purchasing a shade sail.

A shade sail can make the time you spend in your outdoor space a lot more enjoyable. It can, for example, shield you and your family members from most of the sun's harsh UV rays and thus enable you to avoid getting sunburnt, even when you spend several hours outside.

Because most shade sails are made from fabric which reflects the heat of the sun, the area underneath them also remains comfortably cool, even on blisteringly hot summer days. This, in turn, can reduce the chances of you and other household members developing sunstroke.

Additionally, a shade sail can shield your eyes from the glare of the sun and thus allow you to easily read a book or watch a show on your e-tablet whilst sitting your garden, regardless of how bright the sun happens to be.

Give your patio furniture some TLC

If you enjoy dining al fresco during the summer months and intend to host quite a few parties throughout this period, it's a good idea to check the condition of your patio furniture now and, if necessary, give it a bit of TLC.

First and foremost, make sure that it is safe to use; check that the screws which join various components of the chairs and table together have not loosened over time. If they have, use a screwdriver to retighten them.

Secondly, check for corrosion (if your patio furniture is made from metal) or wet rot (if your furniture is made from wood). Small patches of corrosion can usually be removed by sanding the affected area, priming and repainting it. Similarly, small sections of rotting wood can be fixed by sanding, priming and varnishing these areas.

It should be noted, however, that extensive corrosion or wet rot can affect the stability of the furniture and may result in the chairs legs snapping or collapsing when somebody sits on them. As such, if your patio furniture has been severely damaged by corrosion or rot, then it might be best to replace the affected items.